Eligibility Requirements and General Information

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  1. General Requirements – Athletes must meet all Delta League and C.I.F. requirements before they participate in the given sport (see the respective coach or Director of Athletics for more details). Students must also meet specific academic and conduct requirements of Jesuit High School to be eligible to participate in its athletic program.
  2. Academic Eligibility – All students must have passing grades in all of their subjects. Passing means achieving a grade of “D” or better. Any athlete who falls below a 2.0 grade point average in any quarter or semester (college preparatory courses only) or who receives two “D’s” or one “F” becomes ineligible to participate in any athletic practices or contests and is placed on academic probation.
    Students on Academic or Disciplinary Probation who wish to participate on an athletic team must petition the Principal for an eligibility extension, not to exceed one quarter, before beginning or continuing (if already in progress) the activity or sport. Any student who falls below the academic eligibility standards of the Delta League (2.00 GPA) may petition the Principal for an athletic eligibility extension, not to exceed one quarter. An eligibility extension will normally be granted only once during a student’s high school career and cannot be granted for consecutive semesters.
  3. Behavior – Athletes are to conform to the codes and regulations of Jesuit High School as stated in the “Directives from the Dean of Students,” as found on page 16 in the Student-Parent Handbook. A student may be suspended from participation by a coach for violation of a training rule or by the Dean when he violates a student code that ordinarily calls for suspension.
  4. Drug and Alcohol Policy – Unfortunately, the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol is widespread and persistent and it often is highlighted in the athletic community because of the visibility and public nature of the athletic programs. The policy of the Athletic Department regarding drug and alcohol use is consistent with the school policy as it is found in the Student-Parent Handbook.
    1. If a coach becomes aware of any situation (both on-campus and off-campus use) involving drug and/or alcohol use by one or more of his/her student-athletes, he/she will immediately bring such information to the Dean of Students. Since the Drug and Alcohol Policy is applicable to all students and its enforcement falls under the responsibility of the Dean, a coach shall not take disciplinary action above and beyond that taken by the school prior to dialogue with the Principal, the Dean, the Director of Athletics, and the student’s counselor. Any student-athlete specific or team specific discipline shall be appropriate to the nature of the offense (time, place, severity, frequency) and may involve suspension from practices and/or contests, as well as possible expulsion from the team.
    2. If a student-athlete approaches a coach on a voluntary basis (not influenced by prior knowledge of an offense) and seeks help for a drug and alcohol problem, the coach will immediately bring this to the attention of the student-athlete’s counselor. The coach will endeavor to work together with the student-athlete, the counselor and the parents of the student-athlete to provide whatever assistance is necessary. Such situations will not be considered disciplinary matters.
    3. Each coach is required to address the issue of drug and alcohol use with his/her student-athletes and to review with them the policy of the school and the Athletic Department regarding drug and alcohol use.
  5. Medical – C.I.F. rules require that all students wishing to participate in an interscholastic sport must show evidence of having a physical given by a licensed California physician. A free physical exam is provided by the school for returning athletes in August and is good for one year. Returning athletes who miss the school provided physical must procure one on their own. The medical exams that incoming freshmen must have before admission to Jesuit are good for one year. Jesuit has a full time trainer on staff and a committed group of physicians (parents of alumni and current students) who provide quality medical care and rehabilitation throughout the year. If a student suffers an injury during a practice or contest, the on-site medical personnel (can include, trainer, physician and /or EMT staff) will respond first. If they are not available the coach on site will assess the extent of the injury and either call the athlete’s parents (non serious injury) or 911 for emergency medical treatment.
  6. Parent Release Forms – Students must also submit a signed parental consent/emergency form before they will be allowed to participate in any sport. These forms are available from the coach of any given sport or the Director of Athletics. Students will not be allowed to practice or compete until they have shown evidence of a physical and parental consent form. The school does provide parents of football players the option of purchasing an additional accident liability insurance coverage. These forms are available from any of the football coaches. Jesuit assumes that all students who participate in athletics have adequate medical/liability insurance in the case of an accident and/or sports related injury.
  7. Participation on Non-School Teams – The head coach for each sport determines the policy for allowing athletes to compete on non-school sports teams during the high school season. The only sport in which you may participate on a similar non-school team during that sport’s season of play, as mandated by the C.I.F., is soccer. Failure to abide by the coach’s stated non-school participation policy can result in suspension or removal of the offending student from the team.
  8. Schedules and Cancellations – Schedules are developed by each head coach under the supervision of the Director of Athletics and in cooperation with the Delta League. Contests are scheduled in such a way as to minimize lost class time and to avoid conflict with semester exams.
    1. Should a condition occur when it is unsafe or undesirable to play an athletic contest (weather conditions), the Director of Athletics, in consultation with the respective head coach, will cancel the contest and will notify the opposing school and the officials. If a contest during the week is to be canceled, the decision will be made by 12:00 PM, at the latest, of the day in question (if a weekend game, parents and athletes should contact the coach). Parents should call the Director of Athletics between 12:00 – 12:30 PM, to receive information on the status of the contest. After 12:00 PM, the cancellation decision will be made by the head coach and the game officials on site.
  9. Transportation – Transportation to Jesuit athletic contests is provided by bus, van, student driven vehicle or parent driven vehicle. Unfortunately, costs preclude us from transporting athletes by bus to every off campus contest. In a sport in which coaches, athletes, and/or parents drive students to contests, the head coach will provide transportation permission forms and automobile insurance forms to each athlete. These forms are to be returned to the coach with the appropriate information and parental signatures. Parents may designate whether or not their son’s) may travel with another student or parent, or would prefer that their son’s) only travel with a coach in a school assigned vehicle.
    On the day of a contest the coach will assign athletes to specific vehicles and keep a list of those assignments. If an athlete leaves a contest with someone other than with whom he arrived (parent, friend, relative), he must notify his coach prior to his departure. Jesuit is responsible for all athletes who leave the school and proceed directly to an off-campus contest. If an athlete leaves campus on his own and goes home prior to his travel to an off-campus contest, the school is not to be held liable for the travels of that athlete.
  10. Starting Dates – There are three athletic seasons: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Each has a starting date designated for the beginning of practice:
    1. Fall Monday of the 3rd/4th week in August
    2. Winter November 1
    3. Spring February 1 (except swimming, March 1)
    4. Prior to these starting dates, the only activity that is permissible during the school year is conditioning and weight training. The use of sports equipment for a given sport will NOT be allowed prior to the set starting practice date for that sport.
    5. The C.I.F. Sac-Joaquin Section and the Delta League will be “dark” from June 1 until the first day of pre-conditioning for football (3rd/4th week in August). Therefore, all athletic activities during this time period are under the authority of Jesuit High School.
    6. All out-of season activities sponsored by an agency not under the authority of the State C.I.F. or of the section in which a school employee-coach and his student athletes are participating shall be exempted from this rule.
  11. Cuts – While cutting will always be difficult for students and coaches alike, the student’s well being will be the primary consideration in the manner a coach chooses to cut. Six of our sports: soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf and volleyball, hold tryouts and make cuts. The other seven sports: football, cross country, water polo, wrestling, track and field, rugby and swimming do not make any cuts. The choice to cut or not to cut is based on a variety of factors, chief among them: the nature of the sport, the size and availability of facilities and coaching duties. Coaches will clearly spell out the skills and qualities necessary to make their team. Athletes will be given feedback on their performance during tryouts. Coaches will make themselves available ( i.e., specific time and place) to talk to any student who has been cut.
  12. Appeal Policy – Any student-athlete who feels that he has not been treated with fundamental Christian fairness, in trying out for a team or during his tenure on a team, should observe the following guidelines:
    1. The student-athlete should first schedule a meeting with the coach of the sport involved (parents are invited to participate at any time they think it appropriate).
      1. If this process takes place on the Freshman or JV/Sophomore levels and there is no resolution then the next step for the student-athlete is to approach the varsity head coach who is in charge of the particular program.
      2. If there is no resolution at this level, proceed to step b.
    2. The student-athlete should then meet with the Director of Athletics to discuss the situation. If this meeting does not resolve the issue, proceed to step c.
    3. The student-athlete should then meet with the Assistant Principal of Instruction and Student Services to discuss the situation. If this meeting does not resolve the issue, proceed to step d.
    4. The final stage is for the student-athlete to meet with the Principal to discuss the previous three meetings and why he is still not satisfied with the situation.
  13. Off-Season Requirements – Each head coach, with approval of the Principal and Director of Athletics, may offer opportunities for athletes to take part in off-season conditioning and competition that is consistent with the rules set forth by the Delta League and the State and Section C.I.F. Any expectations for participation in off-season programs must be put in writing by the coach and distributed to all potential participants. At the present time, some of our programs have specific off-season requirements while other programs either have none or offer opportunities for conditioning and weight lifting on a voluntary basis. Athletes and parents should check with the head coach of their respective program for specific information.
  14. Underclassmen on Varsity – The following are the criteria a coach must follow when considering placement of an underclassman on the Varsity level:
            He fills an obvious need that current players cannot
            He will either start or play regularly through the entire season
            He is demonstrably superior in ability and maturity
            He and his parents are supportive of the move
            He is academically capable of handling the move
    The Director of Athletics should be informed of and approve any plan to move an underclassman to a higher level.
  15. Practice Times – C.I.F. rules mandate that practice sessions do not last longer than two hours. Exception is made when a rest period of at least one hour is provided between practice sessions. Warm-up (stretching) is not considered part of the two hour requirement. No athletic practice may be held on the following days without administrative permission:
            Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
            New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
            Easter weekend (Thurs. – Sun.)
            Labor Day
            Thanksgiving
  16. Dropping a Sport – In order to be fair to all sports by preventing students from switching sports after the season has started, a series of “drop” dates have been established. A “drop” date indicates the date after which a student cannot drop from the team roster and transfer to another sport without advance permission from the coach of the team which the student wishes to drop.
            Fall The end of the first week of school
            Winter The Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving
            Spring The end of the first week of March
  17. Absences – An athlete must be in school attendance for at least three classes that day in order to practice or to compete in a contest. The Dean of Students will decide what constitutes attendance for each individual case.
    While absences for athletic events are considered “approved” absences, it is still the responsibility of the student to inform his teachers of his upcoming absence and make-up any class-work or homework that is missed as a result of the absence. Students and parents are asked to consult page 20 of the Student-Parent Handbook for more information on the school’s attendance policy.
  18. Awards – Plaques are awarded to individual athletes who demonstrate exceptional talents or who in other ways make extraordinary contributions to the team. Athletes on Varsity league, section, or state championship teams will receive a patch designating their achievement from the athletic department. Block J’s are awarded to athletes who fulfill the participation and/or playing requirements on the Varsity level of competition.
  19. Banquets – Athletic awards banquets are held to honor those students who have participated in the sports program and have consequently represented Jesuit High School in a unique way. Attendance at banquets is mandatory; students who do not attend the banquet without notifying their coach may forfeit their Varsity letter and team championship awards. Banquets are scheduled as close to the end of the season as is possible. Proper attire is slacks, dress shirt, clean shoes and a tie.
  20. “Packages” – With the approval of the Director of Athletics, each sport may offer a “package” to the athletes. These “packages” usually include sport-specific logo wear which is designed for use in practices and contests. Coaches are encouraged to keep the prices of the “packages” as reasonable as possible. This is not a fund-raising opportunity and “packages” may only be sold to athletes and to their immediate family members.
  21. Estimated Equipment Costs – Equipment costs and needs will vary from sport to sport. Costs for additional personal equipment, (equipment which is not provided by the school) as listed in this handbook, reflect the purchase of new equipment. Some athletes will already have the required personal equipment and will not need to purchase any additional equipment. Not all athletes need the same type of equipment and thus their costs will be less than other athletes.